Iowa State took care of business against West Virginia Wednesday night, overcoming a back-and-forth start to blow out the Mountaineers 93-68. The Cyclones were led by 27 points from Lindell Wigginton, 18 from Marial Shayok and a season-high number of free throw attempts.

But there’s more to take away from Wednesday’s affair.

This is a bad West Virginia team

The Mountaineers’ loss on Wednesday dropped them to 9-12 and 1-7 in the Big 12. It was West Virginia’s third-straight loss by double-digits, and its eight loss in nine games.

After the game, coach Bob Huggins was, to say the least, not pleased with how his team has performed this season.

“We suck,” Huggins said when describing his team. “I’m miserable.”

Huggins, who was ejected from the game with 3:40 left after picking up two technical fouls during a media timeout, lamented the fact that the Mountaineers continue to struggle with passing the ball. Iowa State forced 19 turnovers and caused numerous deflections. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers forced 12 turnovers, a number lower than West Virginia’s press usually forces.

Iowa State won by 25 on Wednesday, but don’t get it twisted: This is not the normal West Virginia.

Lindell’s big night 

Lindell Wigginton looked a lot like the Wigginton Cyclone fans and coaches saw on a nightly basis during the 2017-18 season. Scoring 27 points on 12 shots and reaching the free throw line 16 times, Wigginton looked confident an in a rhythm he had been lacking since his return from injury in December.

Coach Steve Prohm said that Wigginton has improved as of late.

“He’s coming along,” Prohm said. “It’s great to see him score 27 just because, you know, he hadn’t had that breakout game.”

In three of Wigginton’s last four games (the clunker against Kansas notwithstanding), the sophomore guard has scored 17-plus points, and his offensive growth is a welcome luxury for the Cyclones.

With Shayok consistently putting up 15-to-20 points, if Wigginton fits in as a secondary scoring threat then the Cyclones will continue to put up strong numbers on the offensive end of the floor.

The scope of the Big 12

Iowa State enters the weekend one loss out of the Big 12 lead currently held by Kansas State and Baylor, who are 5-2 through seven conference games. The Cyclones sit tied with Kansas and Texas Tech at 5-3 heading into the Texas game on Saturday. The Longhorns sit at 4-4 (tied with TCU) in conference and 12-9 overall.

Earlier this week, it was said that the two games this week were crucial for Iowa State’s chances of ending Kansas’s regular season title run. The Longhorns’ win over the Jayhawks on Tuesday night raises the incentive for the Cyclones to win and, at the very least, keep pace with the Jayhawks in the race with nine games to play.

Texas won’t be easy, as coach Shaka Smart’s team has been inconsistent and unpredictable for much of his four-year tenure. Iowa State will need to be on its game to close out an undefeated week and avoid a second home loss in Big 12 play.